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HUUSL February Newsletter 2
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February 23, 2026
Various Scenes of Boston
Harvard College, along with several other schools across the University, moved Monday classes online ahead of a major snowstorm. (Pavan V. Thakkar, The Harvard Crimson)
Thanks to all who joined for the HUUSL Working Group launch last week! We are so excited to begin our important working group projects for this semester.
HUUSL News
In other news, we are now in our THIRD week of Comp! So far, compers have had the chance to learn more about urban studies issues, including those related to housing and transportation.

Some important dates and deadlines to keep in mind:
• Comp Final Project ideas are due EOD Thursday, February 26.
• Comp Final Projects are due EOD Saturday, March 7.
• The March All-Hands Meeting (with comp presentations) will be Sunday, March 8.

Add the HUUSL Calendar to Gcal to stay updated!
Events
ICE vs. The People: Lessons from Minnesota
03/02 (Mon.) 7 PM — MINARA | Culture Salon x Café (361 Huron Ave)

“​Join us on Monday, February 23rd at 7pm for a collaboration between Harvard AFRO and the Freedom School. On the one month anniversary of the general strike in Minnesota, we will learn about ICE's attacks, consider how our community was able to respond, and discuss what lessons we can carry with us, as we imagine our role in the movement!

Joined by Harvard history professor, Walter Johnson, we will go over the history of general strikes and state violence, and discuss what is required of us in the movement." (Register here.)

America Walks — Freedom to Move Webinar
03/05 (Thu.) 2 PM — Online

“Everyone deserves the right to move freely, safely and with dignity in their communities. Join America Walks Board Members Abdullahi Abdulle, a transportation planner and former elected official living in Minnesota; José de Jesús Leal, Principal Landscape Architect with MIG, Inc. in Sacramento, and Nailah Pope-Harden, a former non-profit advocate now working in equity and tribal affairs for Caltrans, for a discussion on their experiences with immigration enforcement and its effects on their communities, and the connection between transportation and civil rights advocacy." (Webinar registration here).

Joint Center for Housing Studies annual Dunlop Lecture
03/05 (Thu.) 6:30 PM — Graduate School of Design

The talk will be given by Kenzie Bok, administrator of the Boston Housing Authority, who will be speaking about The Past, Present, and Future of Public Housing in the US. Kenzie will be talking, in part, about how her background as an intellectual historian focused on theories of justice informs her actions as the head of the nation’s sixth largest public housing authority.

MIT Mobility Talks
03/06 (Fri.) 9 AM — Online

“The Mobility Forum with Prof. Jinhua Zhao showcases transportation research and innovation across the globe. The Forum is online and open to the public.” There are many talks coming up that focus on a variety of topics related to urbanism including the climate crisis, the intersection of technology and mobility, school transportation, and more. The full schedule can be found here.

Opportunities

Contribute to our HUUSL Bulletin this semester! We are open to any students who want to write about anything urban. If you are interested, please contact smenon@college.harvard.edu.

Below are some internship opportunities:

Apply by March 1st to work for 11 weeks in a city department or organization as an Urban Scholar. Other internship opportunities with the City of Minneapolis are also available and have application deadlines on February 28th.
Apply by February 27th to join TRA, a transportation consulting firm, in Philadelphia this summer. Responsibilities include research, report-writing, and field work.
Work remotely for 10 weeks supporting this consulting firm in its work to use federal grants to support state and local clients.
Review, analyze, and ensure compliance with federal regulations for various projects with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. This company focuses on providing expanding access to housing throughout the region.
In the News...
Amal Ahmed, Streetsblog USA
In North Texas, DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) had been facing threats to its funding as several member cities threatened to vote on leaving the system. Now, the agency and other regional groups have been pushing to create more unified regional authorities to enable coordinated funding and projects.
Press Release, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is disbursing funding to 15 cities to support the Complete Streets Funding Program. Funded projects are intended to help make streets safer for all users. Examples of projects include ADA-compliant curb ramps and pedestrian signals.
Chinanu Okoli, Cambridge Day
The City of Cambridge has seen average rental prices stagnate somewhat, but unaffordability is still pushing advocates and city officials to explore more policies to protect and benefit tenants.
Charles Marohn, Strong Towns
Though federal and state transportation funding is now at historic levels, many cities and local governments are still struggling to maintain essential infrastructure. This article explores how infrastructure funding requirements may promote unsustainable projects and redirect funding away from strengthening existing infrastructure.
If you are unable to access any of the articles, please email team@huusl.org to receive a copy.
All the best,
HUUSL Board
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HUUSL March Newsletter 1
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March 11, 2026
Cambridge City Hall Interior
The interior of Cambridge City Hall. Cambridge residents can vote through March 15 on how to allocate $1 million in city funding through the city's Participatory Budgeting program. (Frank S. Zhou The Harvard Crimson)
Thanks to all who joined for the HUUSL MIXER and HUUSL All-Hands meeting! We are so excited for more upcoming HUUSL events in the future.
HUUSL News
Our compers have officially completed comp and gave amazing Comp Presentations at the All-Hands meeting!

Add the HUUSL Calendar to Gcal to stay updated!
Events
MIT Mobility Talks
03/13 (Fri.) 12 PM — Online

“The Mobility Forum with Prof. Jinhua Zhao showcases transportation research and innovation across the globe. The Forum is online and open to the public.” There are many talks coming up that focus on a variety of topics related to urbanism including the climate crisis, the intersection of technology and mobility, school transportation, and more. The full schedule can be found here.

A previous iteration of this event was listed in the last newsletter. This coming Friday, the Forum will explore "The Value of Transit" with a Former Secretary of Transportation, Massachusetts.

“A Fresh Start for Our Cities” Open Lecture by Bill McKibben
03/26 (Thu.) 6:30 PM — Piper Auditorium, Harvard Graduate School of Design

“For over 40 years, Bill McKibben has been raising the alarm about the climate crisis, starting with his groundbreaking book, The End of Nature. Now McKibben says, for once in his life, he is spreading good news. In his latest book, Here Comes the Sun, he explains why the recent boom in solar and wind power has given him hope for the planet’s future, and he implores everyone to buy in.”

Opportunities

Contribute to our HUUSL Bulletin this semester! We are open to any students who want to write about anything urban. If you are interested, please contact smenon@college.harvard.edu.

Below are some internship opportunities:

Interpret key information for the Boston Housing Authority in its work to provide housing for low-income families.
Review MassDOT projects to ensure compliance with local and federal regulations. Work with regulations in the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, and other relevant legislation.
Analyze and model energy usage and efficiency in buildings. Perform calculations to determine the feasibility of decarbonization strategies, including renewable energy systems. This position is also offered in Denver, CO.
In the News
Risha Sinha, The Harvard Crimson
Until March 15th, Cambridge residents (including university students) can vote as part of the city’s Participatory Budgeting. program. Be part of a decision to allocate funds across a few programs submitted and developed by community members. Vote online, by phone, or in person.
Christian MilNeil, Streetsblog Mass
Data collected by the City of Cambridge at 16 key intersections demonstrates a clear growth in cycling where new, separated bikeways have been installed. See if you can spot any familiar locations on the map in this article!
Jane Petersen, Cambridge Day
The Cambridge City Council voted to send the state legislature a petition to enact a 2 percent tax on real estate transactions above $1 million to raise revenue for affordable housing. This article contains perspectives from council members, which helps explain the purpose of this type of strategy.
Wyatt T. Zurline, The Harvard Crimson
The Massachusetts legislature has been moving toward including a rent control ballot measure in November. Proponents praise this policy as a much-delayed but necessary step, and opponents argue that such a measure would stall housing production.
Noah Kolenda and Brandon Lewis, Mass Transit
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) published a report stating that investments in public transportation yield around five times that value in long-term economic value and jobs support. This report and article break down the expected benefits of a $1 billion investment, including jobs, tax revenue, and the value of improved access to mobility.
Longer Reads
Benjamin Schneider, Bloomberg
This article includes an analysis of how much property tax revenue various cities may gain by removing or building over freeways in their downtown areas.
Micheal W. Mehaffy, Planetizen
In response to NIMBYs (“Not In My BackYard,” a term that generally refers to people who oppose local development), some have turned to a QUIMBY (“Quality In My BackYard”) approach, which promotes active citizen participation in defining projects, in contrast to reacting to proposals from external stakeholders.

If you are unable to access any of the articles, please email team@huusl.org to receive a copy.
All the best,
HUUSL Board
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